424 LOBELIACEyE. Lobelia. 



4. Lobelia Dortmanna, Linn. Water Gladioh. 



Stem scape-like, nearly naked ; radical leaves in a rosulate cluster, terete, fleshy, 2-celled ; 

 those of the stem few, very small ; flowers few, remote, the pedicels three times as long as 

 the bracts. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 929 ; Engl. hot. t. 140 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 153 ; Pursli, Jl. 2. 

 p. 446 ; Bigel. Jl. Bosl. p. 87; Torr. fl. I. p. 239, excl. syn. Nutt. ; Beck, hot. p. 214 ; 

 Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 29 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 376. 



Root perennial, fibrous. Stem or scape 6-15 inches long, erect, simple, hollow. Radical 

 leaves growing under water, 1 - 3 inches long, spreading and recurved, obtuse, of a flesliy 

 appearance, but consisting of two empty united tubes, with a longitudinal partition ; cauline 

 leaves 2-3, very remote, linear, 3-4 lines long. Flowers 3-4, nodding ; the pedicels 

 about half an inch long. Calyx smooth, acute at the base ; the segments linear, at first longer, 

 but finally shorter than the tube. Corolla pale blue, half an inch long ; the upper segments 

 linear, the lower lanceolate. Filaments free at the base : anthers hairy ; the 2 lower bearded 

 at the tip. Ovary partly free from the calyx. Seeds oblong, rough. 



Borders of freshwater ponds and rivulets. Northern part of the State. Near West-Point 

 {Prof. Bailey) ; Sag-Harbor on Long Island {Mr. Buckley). July - September. A singular 

 species, indigenous also to Europe. 



5. Lobelia syphilitica, Linn. (Plate LXIL) Blue Cardinal-Jlower. 



Stem somewhat hairy ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute at each end, irregularly denticulate- 

 serrate ; flowers (large) in a dense spiked raceme , the lower ones axillary ; pedicels much 

 shorter than the leaf-like bracts ; calyx hispidly ciliate, the tube hemispherical ; lobes lanceo- 

 late, auriculate at the base ; the auricles reflexed, and 2-cleft. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 931 ; Miclix, 

 fl. 2. p. 151 ; Ker, hot. rcg. t. 537 ; Pursh,fl. 2. p. 447 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 256 ; Torr. Jl. 1. 

 p. 241 ; Beck, hot. p. 215 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 154 ; DC. prodr. 7. p. 337. 



Perennial. Stem 1 - 2J feet high, erect, simple, hairy on the angles. Leaves 3-6 inches 

 long and an inch or more wide, sprinkled with appressed hairs, sessile. Raceme 6-10 

 inches long, the lower part leafy ; the leaves gradually diminishing in size upward, and passing 

 into bracts. Flowers nearly an inch long, on short pedicels. Calyx shorter than the tube of 

 the corolla ; the margin of the sinuses reflexed, and produced into oblong auricles. Corolla 

 bright blue, or sometimes white. Capsule free above. 



Low grounds, and borders of streams ; rather common. August - September. 



Tliis plant is emetic, cathartic and diuretic, but is not so active as the following species. 

 " In the application of one of the common names to this plant, is a curious instance of com- 

 mitting a pun without committing a sin. Being much taller and more robust than the L. 

 inflata, which is frequently used in domestic practice under the name of low helia, it was 

 supposed as a matter of course by those better acquainted with its near affinity to the latter, 

 than with its etymology, that it must be High helia!" {Dr. J. l\L Bigdoio in trans, med. 

 conv. Ohio, 1841.) 



